January 30th

January 31, 2012

By

Gian DeLoia

The Main Street Program is kicking off a statewide initiative this Friday to promote shopping along downtown Ridgway.
"First Friday" will be a monthly event held on the first Friday of each month. Downtown merchants, restaurants, clubs and specialty shops will hold extended hours, promotions and specials until 7 p.m. in an effort to increase traffic into each participating business.

January 31, 2012

By

Tom Chapin

PUNXSUTAWNEY â€” Break out the red carpet for the Groundhog Day trek to Gobbler's Knob for two important figures: Punxsutawney Phil and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett.
The Groundhog Club's Inner Circle confirmed last week that Corbett and his wife, Susan, will indeed attend Groundhog Day 2012, serving as the guest speaker at the annual Groundhog Banquet Feb. 1 and making the trek with the Inner Circle the morning of Feb. 2.

January 31, 2012

By

Larry McGuire

BROOKVILLE â€” A Punxsutawney man who served as the jury foreman in the Steven Rebert double-homicide trial, which concluded late Friday, said the jury became deadlocked while deliberating whether or not Rebert should be put to death.
Rebert was sentenced to life in prison by Jefferson County President Judge John H. Foradora, after the jury could not come to a consensus as to whether or not he should be put to death in the murders of Wayne and Victoria Shugar, both 61, Brockway, who were found shot to death in their home April 12, 2010.

January 31, 2012

Ridgway boys basketball used a second-quarter run to break a tie after eight minutes as the Elkers went on to a 53-40 win over Brockway Monday night at Ridgway Area High School.
The win puts Ridgway at 16-0 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the AML South, winning the division. The win also means DuBois Central Catholic will finish as the division runner-up. DCC went into Monday with a 3-2 AML South record.

January 31, 2012

JOHNSONBURG â€“ Kane had the game's highest scorer by one point Monday night but the Johnsonburg Rams took care of the rest in an 81-54 victory in the Paper City.
The visiting Wolves were fueled by sophomore forward Jeffrey Kocjancic's game-high 23 points but it wasn't enough to overcome a trio of Johnsonburg Rams scoring in double figures.
Senior Mitchell Holmberg and sophomore Cameron Grumley finished with 22 and 21 points, respectively, while sophomore Cole Peterson contributed 13 points to the winning effort.

January 29th

January 30, 2012

Ridgway head wrestling coach Gary Gerber will lead the Elkers for the final time in front of the home fans Tuesday night as Ridgway hosts Brookville.
The junior high dual is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity match to follow at approximately 7 p.m.
Gerber announced before the season that he will retire after this season is over. Gerber has over 430 wins to his career among a litany of coaching accomplishments. He announced the decision on Oct. 10, 2011 on "Talk of The Town" hosted by Dennis D. Heindl on 97.5 The Hound.

January 30, 2012

By

Gian DeLoia

The Ridgway-Elk County Chamber of Commerce provides a wide variety of benefits to its members.
Many businesses and individuals in the area may be unaware of the promotional opportunities it provides.
For instance, through membership, an organization called "Chamber Choice" can provide low-cost health insurance to members who may not otherwise have the option.

January 30, 2012

Irma Maria Chirillo, 84, of 501 Market St., Johnsonburg, died Saturday evening, Jan. 28, 2012 at DuBois Nursing home in DuBois following a brief illness.
She was born Jan. 19, 1928 in Colosimi Province of Cosenza, Italy, the daughter of the late Mario and Rosa Colosimi Pastore. On Oct. 4, 1949, in Motta Santa Lucia, Italy, she married Victor F. Chirillo, who survives.

January 30, 2012

The St. Marys Area Flying Dutch wrestling squad picked up a pair of victories over the Johnsonburg Rams and Sheffield Wolverines during a tri-meet at SMAHS on Saturday morning. The Dutch defeated the Rams 72-12 and beat the Wolverines 59-9. Sheffield also picked up a 48-18 victory over Johnsonburg.

January 27th

January 28, 2012

BROOKVILLE â€“ A hung jury sentenced former Emporium resident Stephen P. Rebert to life in prison for the shooting deaths of Brockway residents Wayne and Vicki Shugar, both 61, who were found dead April 12, 2010 in their Coal Tipple Road home.
The jury could not come to a unanimous decision on the death penalty, which was being sought by District Attorney Jeffrey Burkett. Eight jurors were for the death penalty and four for life, an automatic sentence of life in prison.